USA > Maine > York County > Kittery > Old Kittery and her families > Part 15
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1 Sibley's Harvard Graduates Vol. III. pp. 424-8.
13
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'OLD KITTERY
Creek ye year ensuing." In 1750 the Middle Parish was sepa- rated from the Lower Parish, and the Rev. Josiah Chase became its first ordained minister. 19 Sept. 1750. He was born at New- bury, Mass., 20 Nov. 1713, and graduated at Harvard in 1738. Having attended a wedding. 26 Dec. 1778, he missed his way in a snow storm, fell into the Creek near his home and was drowned. His body was recovered the following morning.
The Rev. Joseph Litchfield was ordained 3 July 1782, as the successor of Mr. Chase. He served till 1827, when being enfeebled by age and admiring the zeal and energy of the Methodists he with his people requested the Maine Conference to send them a minister. The Rev. Paschal P. Morrill was sent. Thus Congregationalism at the head of Spruce Creek passed over to Methodism without friction, and a Methodist Church has been maintained there ever since. Mr. Litchfield died 28 Jan. 1828. The old church was burned in 1834, and a new one was built the following year. The present church edifice was built in 1879 at a cost of about $2,200. The parsonage was built in 1842.
C
M. E. CHURCH, KITTERY FORESIDE.
The growth of the vil- lage at Kittery Foreside caused the organization of a second Methodist Episco- pal Church about 1867. The church edifice was built soon after, a cut of which is here presented. Its
growth has been slow but steady, and it is now pros- pering under the pastorate of Rev. George C. Andrews.
The first class of Meth- odists, formed in 1828, con- sisted of Gowen Wilson, who was class-leader, Nancy Wilson, William W. Fernald, Waite Fernald, Mary Cutts, Julia Fernald, Thomas Mason, Elzira Johnson, Susan Pettegrew, Hannah Caswell, Abigail Pickernell, Susan Neely, Robert Cutts and llannah Cutts.
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The Methodist Episcopal Church at Eliot Neck was organized 24 Oct. 1866, and the church was built in 1868. For further par- ticulars of Methodism in Kittery and Eliot see Allen's History of Methodism in Maine, pp. 390-92.
I have found no record which tells when the first meeting- house at the Parish of Unity was built. A Court Record of 1659, already cited, shows that there was no meeting-house there at that (late and that the project of building one was under discussion. It has been stated by Mr. George W. Frost that the building was erected in 1653, and he cites documentary evidence to prove this.1 The date of the Court order is May 4, 1652, and it is signed by John Wincoll, Sec'y. Now John Wincoll was not chosen Clerk of Court till 1689, and he served till his death in 1694. Moreover, it is stated that Charles Frost, James Neal. James Emery, William Chadbourne. Ichabod Plaisted, and John Heard, were given authority to select a lot and build a meeting-house that should be thirty by forty feet in dimensions. All of these men were probably either under age or unborn in 1652. Ichabod Plaisted was born in 1664. There is, doubtless, an error in the date of the document, and the date should be 1692 rather than 1652. In that case it has reference to the building of a second church, for a meeting-house is mentioned in Berwick in 1683. It may have been their intention to build a church in what is now Eliot. At any rate the church then ordered by the Court was never built.
The Parish of Unity was presented at Court, 15 Sept. 1668, for not settling a minister, and again 12 Oct. 1669, for not hav- ing a minister "these five or six years." This takes us back to 1663, when they seem to have had a minister and probably a meeting-house. It is reasonable to conclude that the first meet- ing-house in Berwick was built between 1659 and 1663, probably in 1660. A sketch of this oldest church has been drawn by Mr. George W. Frost, as described to him by his grandmother, who died in 1845, aged 81, and therefore never saw the meeting-house herself but received her account of it from her ancestors. The description probably preserves some of its features.
The upper part of Kittery was presented at Court again, 2 July 1672,"For not providing a minister," and again 30 June 1680. The next record found is as follows: "AAt a meeting of ve Inhabitants of Berwick September ye 7th 1683 voted fifty pounds
1See "Old Eliot." Vol. II., No. VII.
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OLD KITTERY
to be given to Mr. John Emerson towards ye building of a house to be paid in money or other pay equivalent vidz. Merle pine boards at twenty shillings per thousand foot Mercht wheat at four shillings six pence per bushell pease at four shillings per bushell pork at 3d per lb. beef at 2d per lb. all merch to be delivered to Mr. John Emerson or his order in Berwick to be raysed by rate ypon ye inhabitants."
At the same time there were granted to Mr. Emerson fifty acres of land "east of ye ministry or school lands" and "a con- venient pcell of ye ministry land by ye meeting house to Mr. John Emerson for a house lot." The house lot was "taken out of that end of ye Ministry land that lies next Sluts corner" and "four acres out of ye ministry land by ye meeting house to be laid out on that side next to Mr. Hutchinson's land."1 These ministry lands, one hundred and fifty acres, had been laid out, 19 July 1669, "on ye north side of ye way which goes towards Wells," east of "Sluts corner Brook."
This John Emerson was of Salem and a graduate of Harvard College in 1675. He was nephew of the Rev. John Emerson of Gloucester. He was probably never ordained. He was school- master at Newbury in 1681 and at Salem from 1699 till his death, IO March 1712. It is related of him that he visited Major Waldron at Cochecho the day before the massacre, 27 June 1689, and was urged to lodge there, but refusing had a remarkable deliverance. In 1689 he received twelve pounds for services eleven weeks as chaplain to the military forces at Berwick. His ministry at Berwick probably extended from 1682 till about 1692.2
Edward Thompson was the minister at Berwick, 1694-5, as shown by marriages reported by him and recorded at Alfred, Maine.
The tradition has been put into print that the meeting-house was destroyed by fire about 1692, but the following record seems to contradict this, though it may have been so injured by fire as to be not worth repairing.
Berwick, Oct. 14, 1701.
Voted that Ichabod Plaisted, Richard Tozer, John Hill, Thomas Abbot, Benjamin Nason. Charles Frost, Nathan Lord, Humphrey Spencer and Benony Hodsdon be the committee for
1Town Records, Vol. I. p. 34.
2Cf. York Deeds IV. 23.
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the management of the building of sd meeting house, finding the old one not worth repairing.
John Hill Charles Frost James Warren
Selectmen.
The new meeting-house was built at once and was dedicated, 4 June 1702, by Rev. John Pike, assisted by Rev. John Wade. It stood on the lot where Charles Hanscom now lives, on the hill near the northwest corner of Brattle and South streets. Persons are still living who remember the militia trainings in the yard in front of the church. It was not finished tlll 1750, or later, and then it was thought to be one of the finest wood churches in New England. In 1757 a church was built at Dover, N. H., of the same dimensions and general plan, from which we learn that it was forty-seven feet wide by seventy long, with a belfry and tall spire.1 It was standing in a dilapidated and abandoned state in 1845. It was used by the Methodists from 1829 to 1836, the new Congregational church in South Berwick having been built in 1828.
John Wade, the first ordained minister of Berwick, graduated at Harvard College in 1693. He was ordained 18 Nov. 1702, and died 13 Nov. 1703, aged 28 years. He married, 3 Sept. 1696, Elizabeth, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Waldron) Gerrish of Dover. They had two children John, born 16 July 1699, and Sarah, born 20 Sept. 1701. He probably preached at Berwick several years before his ordination, for 22 Nov. 1699 he bought of James Stacpole three acres and a quarter of land which originally belonged to the Spencer estate and was purchased by Stacpole of Ephraim Joy, 2 Nov. 1696. Here Stacpole kept an ordinary or public house of entertainment. The land was "bounded on the south-east by the way going from the great work to the River, Northeast by Mr. John Plaisteds land Some- time called Parkers field, Northwest by the Burying place in ye land of Humphrey Spencer Deceased; Southwest by land of sd Spencer or the Countrey Road." Widow Elizabeth Wade sold this land to the Rev. Jeremiah Wise, 13 June 1707. It was then described as "near to the meeting-house," and John Hill was the
1See The First Parish in Dover, pp. 65, 70.
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OLD KITTERY
owner of the land formerly belonging to John Plaisted. Thus we have the parsonage of John Wade and Jeremiah Wise located, east of the cemetery and near the northwest corner of the streets that there meet.
The church at Berwick was organized the day the new meeting-house was dedicated, June 4, 1702. The original mem- bers were seventeen, as follows: Daniel Goodwin, Peter Grant, Major Joseph Hammond, Ichabod Plaisted, Charles Frost, Joseph Hammond, Jr., Henry Nock, John Fernald, Peter Staple, Daniel Emery, Nathan Lord, Benoni Hodsdon, Job Emery, Abraham Lord, Richard Tozier, Samuel Small and John Gowen.
Jeremiah Wise, the second ordained pastor of the church, was called 26 Nov. 1707, and remained forty-nine years, till his death. He died 20 Jan. 1756, in the 77th year of his age. He was the son of Rev. John Wise of Ipswich, Mass., and graduated at Harvard in 1700.
After the death of Mr. Wise the Rev. John Morse of Black- berry Hill, where a church as an offshoot from this at Great Works had been organized 3 April 1755, occasionally preached. He was succeeded at Blackberry Hill by Rev. Matthew Mirriam, 25 Sept. 1765.
Rev. Jacob Foster was ordained at Great Works, in 1756. He was born in 1733, son of William and Hannah (Durkee) Foster of Ipswich, Mass. He served as chaplain in the Revo- lutionary Army in 1777. He removed to Packersfield, N. H., in 1781 and is said to have died at Nelson, N. H., 3 Dec. 1798. He graduated at Harvard in 1754.
He was succeeded after a short time by Rev. John Thomson, son of Rev. William Thomson of Scarborough. He graduated at Harvard in 1767, was ordained as the first pastor of the church at Standish, 26 Oct. 1768, and was installed at Great Works 7 May 1783. He continued here as pastor till his death, 21 Dec. 1828, aged 89 years. During the last four years of his pastorate Rev. George W. Campbell was associated with him as colleague, who was dismissed the same day that Mr. Thomson was buried. During his ministry the new church was built at South Berwick village. Before its erection services had been held for some time in the Academy.
This church has since been served by Rev. Seth H. Keeler, 1829-1836, Rev. Andrew Rankin, 1837-1840, Rev. William Brad-
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AND HER FAMILIES
ford Homer, 1840-1841, who died in office, Rev. Benjamin R. Allen, 1842-1854, Rev. Alfred Emerson, 1857-1858, Rev. Ephraim . W. Allen, 1858-1865, Rev. Sylvanus Hayward, 1866-1873, Rev. George Lewis, 1874 till the present time.
The Massachusetts archives show that a petition for a new parish in what is now Eliot was received by the General Court in 1713, but the petition itself has disappeared. The petition seems to have been granted, and a committee was appointed to decide about the location of the new meeting house. The people were called together at John Leighton's, 20 April 1714, "to make choice of a learned Orthodox and pious pson to Dispense ye word of God" among them. A Mr. Fish is said to have been called who seems not to have accepted the call.
Sept. 6, 1716, a committee consisting of John Wheelwright, Louis Bane and Abraham Preble reported that they had consulted with the inhabitants of the north parish of Kittery, and they recommended that the proposed meeting house be located "on ye Plains on ye West Side of ye High way that leads from Capt John Leighton's Dwelling House towards Sturgeon Creek oppo- site against Mr. Brooks orchard." This shows that the church was built after 1716, probably the following year, and it fixes its location. The parsonage stood just back of the present residence of John L. Emery. It was a two story house in front, slop- ing back to one story in the rear. The location of the church has been stated by one who had every opportunity to learn as "a few rods north-east of the juncture made by the two roads" and "a few feet back from the road on a level and pleasant green." It was like most New England churches of that time, a two-story oblong structure with gable roof, with the entrance on the south side, with galleries across both ends and the side opposite the pulpit, which fronted the main entrance. Mr. Fogg says that it was forty by fifty feet in dimensions and twenty-five feet high, and that it was demolished in 1837. He drew a sketch of it about fifty years ago, from which the accompanying cut has been made. It reveals more than words can.
It is not known just when Rev. John Rogers began his min- istry, but it was probably as late at 1719, since he was librarian at Harvard College 1715-18 and had a child born in Ipswich, Mass., in August. 1719. He was son of Rev. John Rogers of Ipswich. born in 1602, and graduated at Harvard in 1711. He died 16 Oct.
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OLD KITTERY
1773 after a pastorate of fifty-four years. His character and ministry have been fully set forth by another.1 I chanced to see a letter written by "Rev. Mr. John Rogers, Jr. pastor of the 2nd church in Kittery" in the Christian History, a weekly publication, under date of July 4. 1743. It was addressed to the "Assembly." In it he exclaims. "Oh that something may be said against Armin- ianism as well as Antinomianism." It is presumable that he preached Calvinism pure and simple. Would he stir in his grave if he should hear the modified Arminianism that has supplanted the ancient Calvinism of the Congregational Church?
Inndannao®
n
CHURCH AT LEIGHTON'S POINT, 1717-1837, As sketehed by William Fogg.
The church was organized 22 June 1721 after a fast. Rev. Nathaniel Rogers of Portsmouth made the opening praver ; Rev. John Newmarch preached : and Rev. William Shurtlief made the concluding prayer. Then they went to the house of Rev. John Rogers, and the confession of faith was read and owned by the following persons, John Rogers. Joseph Hammond, Samuel Hill, Nicholas Shapleigh, Stephen Tobey, Daniel Fogg and James Staples. These were the founders of the Congregational church at Eliot. On the twenty-fifth of October, 1721, Mr. Rogers was ordained and installed. llis father gave the charge. Rev. Jonathan Cushing of Dover, N. H., gave the right hand of fellowship. Rev. Nathaniel Rogers of Portsmouth, uncle of the pastor, preached the sermon from I Thess. V. 12, 13.
' Old Eliot. Vol. III. pp. 81-93.
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November sixth a meeting was held at the house of James Staples in order to choose two deacons. William Tetherly and James Staples were chosen by written ballots. After the decease of James Staples choice was made of Thomas Knight as deacon.
A list of members, written by Rev. John Rogers apparently in 1746, includes the following persons.
Joseph Hammond
Nathaniel Chapman
Nicholas Shapleigh
Samuel Libby, David's son
Samuel Hill
David Libby, Sen.
Daniel Fogg
Edward Chapman
James Staples
Christopher Sargent
Stephen Tobey
Robert Staple
William Tetherly
James Staple, Jr.
Andrew Brown
Philip Cooms
Thomas Hanscom
Josiah Paul
John Rogers
Jeremiah Paul
Daniel Fogg. Jr.
Gideon Lydston, moved
William Brooks
George Hammond
Daniel Paul
Dr. Edmund Coffin
Thomas Knight
John Nason
Thomas Fernald
James Chadbourne
David Sayer
John Rogers
Tobias Leighton
John Remick
Capt. John Leighton
John Hammond
Jacob Remick, Sen.
Henry Snow
Humphrey Scammon
Eliot Frost
Robert Morrell
John Shapleigh
Benjamin Hill
Zachariah Emery
Joseph Earl
Solomon Libby
Daniel Brown John Pugsley, Sen.
Mrs. Hammond Mrs. Leighton Mrs. Shapleigh Mrs. Rogers Mrs. Tobey Mrs. King Mrs. Tetherly Mrs. Rodgers
FEMALES.
Mary Staple, wife of William, moved Mercy Clark, wife of David
Sarah Furbush
Sarah Leighton
Dorcas S.aple
Elizabeth Tompson
Susanna Staple Betty Gowell
John Leighton Matthew Libby, Sen.
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OLD KITTERY
Mrs. Libby
Sarah. Brown
Mrs. Libbey Mrs. Hanscom Mrs. Brooks
Elizabeth Spinney, wife of Nathaniel Mary Paul, wife of Stephen
Abigail Staple, wife of Josiah
Rebecca Fogg
Dorcas Brooks, single woman
Mrs. March
Dorcas Shapleigh Elizabeth Ambler
Mrs. Sayer
Mrs. Fernald, wife of Thomas
Mrs. Dixon Mrs. Richardson
Mary Earl, wife of Joseph
Mrs. King
Grace Remick
Mrs. Libby
Jane Frost Mary Small, wife of Joseph
Mrs. Lydston
Mary Hill
Hannah Remick
Mary Staple
Abigail Spinney, wife of Andrew
Mary Stacy
Mrs. Moor, wife of Samuel, Jr.
Sarah Paul
Hannah, regro woman
Anna Tobey
Mary Staple (widow)
Grace Leighton
Lydia Paul, moved
Abigail Dixon
Hannah Staple (now Whitehouse)
Mrs. Hammond (wife of George) Mary Leighton
Shuah Coffin
Mrs. Nason, wife of John
Katherine Hammond Mary Frost Margery Tetherly Susannah Knight
By a unanimous vote of the church, 17 Feb. 1768, Alpheus Spring was chosen as colleague of the pastor, and he was ordained 29 June 1768. Rev. Mr. Carve of Dedham made the opening prayer. Rev. Mr. Symms of Andover preached from I. Cor. II. 1-4. Mr. Rogers, the pastor, prayed and gave the charge. Rev. Mr. Chase of the third Parish gave the right hand of fellowship. Rev. Mr. Stevens of the first parish concluded with prayer.
Rev. Alpheus Spring was born 10 May 1739, at Watertown, Mass., son of Henry and Kezia ( Converse) Spring. He was educated at Nassau Hall, which has developed into Princeton University, where he graduated in 1766. He received the degree of Master of Arts at Dartmouth College in 1785. He married, 18 May 1760, Sarah, daughter of Simon and Mercy (Sewell) Frost. He died of fever 14 June 1791. He was a man respected
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AND HER FAMILIES
for his ability, admired for his zealous activity in the work of the church, and beloved by all the people of his parish.1
The successor of Mr. Spring was Rev. Samuel Chandler, born in Lexington, Mass., 16 Feb. 1766, son of John and Beulah (Merriam) Chandler. He graduated at Harvard in 1790 and was ordained as pastor of the second parish in Kittery 17 Oct.
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, ELIOT.
1792. He married, 30 May 1793, Lydia Spring, daughter of his predecessor. His death occurred 8 Aug. 1828. He records that he baptized seven hundred and forty-six during his ministry. At his ordination Rev. Mr. Cushing of Waltham made the intro- ductory prayer. Rev. Jonas Clark of Lexington preached. Rev. Dr. Haven of Portsmouth made the ordaining prayer. Rev. Samuel Langton of York gave the charge. Rev. Mr. Buckmin- ster of Portsmouth gave the right hand of fellowship, and Rev. Mr. Fiske of Cambridge made the concluding prayer.
There were extensive revivals of religion in this parish in 1742 and 1815. Up to 1820 three hundred and thirty-eight per-
'For a full biographical sketch of Mr. Spring see "Old Eliot." Vol. III. pp. 145-164.
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OLD KITTERY
son's had been added to this church since its foundation, one hundred and forty under the pastorate of Mr. Rogers, fifty-one under that of Mr. Spring, and one hundred and seven under that of Mr. Chandler. The number of communicants in 1820 was one hundred and twenty-five.
Since the death of Mr. Chandler no preacher has remained long enough to make any decided impression on the history of the town. His successors have been Josiah C. Merrill 1831-2, Elisha Bacon 1836-40, Ivory Kimball 1840-42, Josiah B. Clark 1842-5, John Baker 1845-8, Calvin Chapman 1849-50, Jeffries Hall 1852-6. Otis Holmes 1858-65, William H. Cutler 1865, Charles Peabody 1865-70, Benjamin T. Sanborn 1870-75, D. S. Hibbard 1880-84. James Lade 1885-89. T. F. Millett 1890-94, A. L. Golder 1894-6, Andrew L. Chase 1897-1900, and J. Edward Newton, the present pastor from 1900.
THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS.
In 1662 King Charles II gave freedom of worship to all except Quakers. Of them he wrote, "We Cannot be Vnderstood to direct or wish yt any Indulgence should bee granted to those psons Comomly Called Quakers, whose principles being Incon- sistent with any kind of Gouerment, Wee have found it necessary by the Advise of our parlament here to make a sharpe Law against them, And are well contented that you do the like."
The same year Alice Ambrose, Ann Coleman, and Mary Tomkins. Quakeresses, came to Dover, N. H., and received very harsh treatment from the authorities there. They were thrown down stairs, dragged through snow and mud and thrown into the water. The following order was issued.
"To the Constables of Dover, Hampton, Salisbury, Newbury, Rowley, Ipswich, Winham. Linn. Boston, Roxbury, Dedham, and until these vagabond Quakers are out of this jurisdiction :- You, and every one of you, are required, in the King's Majesty's name. to take these vagabond Quakers Anna Coleman, Mary Tomkins and Alice Ambrose, and make them fast to the carts tail, and drawing the cart through your several towns, to whip them upon their naked backs not exceeding ten stripes a piece on each of them in each town ; and so to convey them from Constable to Constable till they are out of the jurisdiction, as you will answer it at your peril ; and this shall be your warrant
Per me Richard Walderne.
At Dover, dated Dec. 22, 1662."
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This inhuman and disgraceful order was executed as far as Salisbury. But religious zeal has never been silenced by perse- cution. The Quaker preachers returned, and renewed their preaching in Dover and Kittery. The descendants of some of their most violent persecutors became stanch adherents of the Society of Friends. The Quakeresses above mentioned found refuge for a time at the house of Major Nicholas Shapleigh. They doubtless preached more or less at private houses in the vicinity of Sturgeon Creek. At a Court held 15 Sept. 1668, Nicholas Shapleigh, James Heard and Richard Nason, being selectmen, were dismissed from office under the charge of being Quakers, and the election of other selectmen was ordered within fourteen days. The Court further ordered that whatever Quaker shall hereafter act in town affairs shall pay a fine of five pounds. John Heard had been fined, 7 July 1663, forty shillings for entertaining Quakers. The selectmen above named were not Quakers but had shown a decent hospitality to persecuted persons of that sect and may have spoken for freedom of religious opinions.
The Friends of Kittery were in the earliest days of their history connected with the Society in Dover, and there the records of their families may be found. Later their families were recorded with the Society of Friends at North Berwick. No independent records of the Friends in Eliot have been discovered. I think none ever existed. Inquiries for them have been made in vain by many.
The Life and Times of John Fothergill, Quaker, was pub- lished in Philadelphia in 1754. Under date of 27th of 4th month, 1721, he records, "Came to J. Morrill's at Kittery," 29th, "Meeting at a place called the Point, Meeting at Portsmouth and in the evening to Kittery again," 3d of 5th month, "Spent night at Francis Allen's at Kittery," 4th, "Had meeting at a Friends house in Newichawanack. People greatly afraid on account of the priests." 18th, "Meeting at Andrew Neal's at Newichawanack." Thus we learn that there were several families of Friends in Kit- tery and Berwick as early as 1721. It is said that regular relig- ious services were established among the Friends in what is now upper Eliot in 1730. A list of Quakers allowed by the Select- men is found in the town records under date of 10 May 1734. They were
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OID KITTERY
Francis Allen
Samuel Hill, Sen.
Francis Allen, Jr.
Michael Kennard
Peter Brawn
Sarah Mitchell. Wid.
James Davis
John Morrell, Sen.
Benjamin Frye
John Morrell, Jr.
Joseph Frye
Jedediah Morrell
William Frye
Nicholas Morrell
William Frye, Jr.
Andrew Neal
Daniel Furbush, Sen.
Andrew Neal, Jr.
Reynold Jenkins
John Neal
Samuel Johnson
Thomas Weed
Peter Wittum
Edward Whitehouse
SITE OF FRIENDS' MEETING-HOUSE, ELIOT. Residence of Charles Goodwin.
In 1737 another list is recorded and the following names are added, James Fenix, John Frye, Jabez Jenkins, and James Whit- tam. The following names found on the above list do not appear on the list of 1737. Peter Brawn, William Frye, Reynold Jenkins,
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AND HER FAMILIES
James Davis, Sarah Mitchell, Jedediah Morrell, Thomas Weed and Peter Wittum. They had probably died or moved out of town.
In 1769 a meeting-house was removed from Dover Neck1 and set up on land of Friend Jenkins, opposite what is now the Allen place. The accompanying illustration shows the site of it. The stone at the corner, where the road from Sturgeon Creek meets the road from the river, served in the old days as a horse-block for dismounting. The church was demolished long ago and the Friends have now no organization in Eliot.
BAPTISTS.
Humphrey Churchwood, member of the Baptist Church in Boston but resident in Kittery, addressed a letter to his brethren in Boston, 3 Jan. 1682, asking that a church be planted in Kittery and that William Scriven be ordained to preach the Gospel. The letter declares that "a competent number of well established people" were ready to form a church.
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